May 12, 2009

Booker T. & The MG's used to be my favorite band and STAX Records is still the baseline by which I measure all other soul music, past and present. So while I no longer listen to the MGs regularly, Potato Hole was still a must listen. Plus, it features Neil Young and the Drive-By Truckers. That's a pretty dynamite, if not quite intuitive, combination. Obviously, Young is a very different guitarist than Booker's old parter, Steve Cropper. However, the best songs are the ones that feature the fuzz and crunch of Young's guitar because it provides such a nice contrast to the B-3's clear and warbling rings. In particular, I like the gritty and soulful grind of "Pound It Out" and the lyrical organ on "Native New Yorker". The mellow second half of the album isn't quite as good as the more upbeat first half, and although it is isn't as awesome as it could be, it more than satisfies this fan.